We can’t believe it’s our last home game of the regular Suncorp Super Netball season.
We love you guys, think you’re the best crowd in the SSN, and want to thank you for your ongoing support by racking up a victory against Giants Netball at Nissan Arena on Saturday.
I’m so proud of our players after last weekend’s four-goal win over West Coast Fever in Perth, as the previous week had been a tough one with three games in six days, all losses.
We all had to do a fair bit of soul-searching and make a commitment to improve performance, so to get that result was incredible.
It was First Nations round which took the game to a whole new level for us with Nelle (Donnell Wallam) returning home to take to the court in what was her first professional match in front of family and friends. Being able to share the First Nations round with her in her home town was particularly special.
This week we’re embracing each moment as it comes, preparing with meticulous effort and intent for what will be a memorable First Nations round at home. It has been all about ensuring we do our own job, pushing each other for more every time we train, and controlling the controllables.
The Giants are so dangerous as they have potent two-point shooters, dynamic defence and don’t cough up the ball often.
We want to see where we can stretch them in attack,and have a full court defensive effort to give our defenders at the back time to combat the moving circle of Jo Harten and Sophie Dwyer.
I’m expecting a similar level of emotion on court this week for our home First Nations round; to have a round dedicated to improving cultural awareness is something special and having Jem (Jemma Mi Mi) and Nelle on our team means the round takes on even greater significance for us.
We love embracing them and their culture, and are proud that they have been so welcoming in helping us grow.
It has been a privilege, personally, to increase my cultural awareness over the past two seasons and that’s something I’m grateful to Netball Queensland, the Firebirds and Jem and Nelle for.
We can’t wait to see the sell-out crowd when we walk out on Saturday and play in our beautiful Rachael Sarra First Nation dresses!
See you there!
